Karachi, Pakistan, 2 November 2020 – In a country that ranks among the top states affected by climate-induced disasters, an urban forest inaugurated at the Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan School in Karimabad, Karachi, kicked off the process of greening Aga Khan Education Service (AKES) schools in Pakistan.

The forest, which covers an area of 48 square metres / 516 square feet, contains 154 trees of 14 different species planted in close proximity. The trees planted are all native to the region, including mulberry, almond, fig, lemon and tamarind, among others. The forest has been planted with the technical expertise of the NED University and the generous support of the SMS Aga Khan School’s graduating class of 1986.

While inaugurating the urban forest by planting a tree at the site of the forest, the Vice Chancellor of NED University of Engineering and Technology, Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, said that NED University and its resources are available to anyone who wishes to benefit from them and use them to benefit others. “I am always inspired by young bright minds,” he said. “I see a lot of hope for the future.”

“This forest will not only be a source of joy and relaxation for our students and staff, it will also demonstrate to our students how a small effort like this can go a long way into providing a valuable habitat for urban wildlife, in improving the quality of our air, and in adding beauty to our lives,” said Ms Shirin Nooruddin, the General Manager of the AKES, Pakistan.

The Chairman of the Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan, Mr Moez Narsi, said, “This forest is a small step to use tree plantation to absorb carbon and create shade. We will be duplicating this effort in our schools all over Pakistan to make our schools ‘green’ and educate our students on the importance of the grave environmental challenge the world faces.”

The Aga Khan Development Network, of which the Aga Khan Education Service is a part, places great importance on reducing and reversing emissions and other damaging environmental impacts, and has launched several projects all over the world in the past few decades to mitigate the impact and risks of climate change.

For more details, please contact:

Rubab Karrar
Communications Manager
Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P)
Level 8, Serena Business Complex
Khyaban-e-Suharwardy, G-5/1
Islamabad
Tel: +92 51 111 253 254
E-mail: rubab.karrar@akesp.org
www.agakhanschools.org

NOTE

The Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P) runs 156 schools and 5 hostels across Pakistan. AKES,P is one of the largest third-sector networks of educational institutions in Pakistan, and part of an international network of over 200 schools spread in 13 countries of the world under the Aga Khan Development Network.

Reaching out to the remotest areas of the country, AKES,P has been providing quality education in the region for the past 110 years. It is a direct provider of education for more than 47,000 students, from pre-primary to higher secondary levels, and facilitates access to higher education through the provision of scholarships, hostels and other educational support services. With almost 3,000 employees, of whom over 2,000 are teachers, AKES,P is proud to be supported by over 2,000 volunteers.